Electrochemical sensing of ascorbic acid and photocatalytic degradation of rose bengal dye along with latent finger print using as synthesized FeVO4 nanoparticles

FeVO₄ nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized via a green solution combustion route using Salvia hispanica seed powder as a biofuel, with ferric nitrate hexahydrate and ammonium metavanadate as metal precursors. The synthesis was performed at 500 °C for 15 min and followed by calcination at 600 °C for 3 h. Comprehensive structural and morphological analyses (XRD, FTIR, UV–Vis, PL, and SEM) confirmed the formation of well-crystallized, rod-like porous FeVO₄ NPs. When applied to electrochemical sensing, a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with FeVO₄ NPs demonstrated excellent performance in detecting L-ascorbic acid (L-AA) using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The sensor exhibited a linear response across the 50–500 µM concentration range, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 21.3 µM and high selectivity at physiological pH 7.0. In photocatalytic studies, the FeVO₄ NPs achieved 98% degradation of Rose Bengal dye under visible light irradiation within 90 min. The degradation efficiency was influenced by dye concentration, catalyst dosage, and pH, with optimal activity also observed at pH 7.0. Furthermore, the NPs were effectively employed in forensic applications for latent fingerprint detection on glass and metal surfaces, where they emitted distinct red fluorescence under UV light and showed high contrast and clarity compared to conventional powders. These findings underscore the multifunctionality of green-synthesized FeVO₄ NPs and their potential for applications in electrochemical sensing, environmental remediation, and forensic science.